Along with other states New York has also reported a rise in the use of heroin as many addicts have shifted from the costlier and prescribed ones to the cheaper alternative.

The problem can be clearly understood from the fact that about 20 percent of the drugs seized every year by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration comes from New York. It has accounted for an increase of 67% in the last 5 years and all of this is credited to the heroin mills functioning from New York City apartments.

Investigations for heroin and prescribed pain killers have doubled in the suburbs of Rockland County, where a pouch of heroin can be purchased for as less as $5 and in used rampantly by people of all class and ages. Number of patients being treated for excessive drug usage has increased rapidly. Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence is serving 850 families now compared to 100 a month earlier.

More that 2,000 residents of New York were reported killed due to opium overdose and this is double the number of the 2004 statistics obtained from the office of attorney general. New York City Department of Health reported that heroin overdoses increased 71% from 2010 to 2012.

In order to solve this problem and save many lives, New York state officials have decided to provide police with antidotes for overdose and it will include syringe of naloxone, sterile gloves, drugs inhaler and instruction booklet. They have also instituted a bill which plans to provide better treatment facilities and bring the treatment of drug abuse under health insurance and medical coverage.